IB92E - Entrepreneurship and Business Venturing

Module content and teaching

Principal aims

Provide a relevant course with a rigorous theoretical underpinning, based around the context of entrepreneurship, which facilitates an understanding of the nature, role and functions of new and smaller enterprises as well as different types of entrepreneurs; appreciate the factors which encourage public policy-makers and practitioners to support entrepreneurship and the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector; appreciate the attitudinal, resource, operational and strategic barriers to business formation and development; appreciate the attributes, resources and contributions of entrepreneurs; and examine the entrepreneurial process in several contexts. The course provides conceptual, analytical and practical insights into the entrepreneurial process with reference to profit and non-profit enterprise contexts. It assumes no prior knowledge.

Principal learning outcomes

Subject Knowledge and Understanding: Main critical works in entrepreneurship; Understand the role and importance of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector in the economy; Demonstrate a knowledge of the objectives of public policy towards smaller enterprises; Demonstrate a knowledge of theories pertaining to the role, nature and function of the entrepreneur; Understand the main features of economic, psychological and sociological theories of entrepreneurship; Apply the various concepts to an understanding of new business creation and growth in several contexts. Cognitive Skills: Be able to think critically about the entrepreneurial process in several contexts; Be able to develop coherent lines of argument; Be able to analyse case studies or research results to critically discuss the assets and liabilities of entrepreneurial experience; Be able to identify the potential obstacles to business formation and development. Subject - specific/ professional skills: Demonstrate an awareness of practical issues relating to the circumvention of attitudinal, resource, operational and strategic barriers to the entrepreneurial process; Ability to draw upon research and case study evidence to address barriers to business formation and development; Ability to apply concepts and techniques in a variety of settings for the entrepreneurial process. Key Skills: Demonstrate problem solving skills developed through analysing research papers and business problems in case studies; Demonstrate oral communication skills developed through presentation of case study results and their theoretical and practical implications; Demonstrate written communication skills developed through the individual and group assignment.